Live Transport of Calves across Europe from the UK

Compassion in World Farming is focussing its campaign on the live transport of calves to veal farms across Europe. Male calves are not wanted in the dairy herd, and in the past they have been seen as of little value for beef rearing. Some dairy farmers do rear their male calves for veal or beef, but many either sell them for export or shoot them soon after birth.

Calves are particularly vulnerable to long distance transport because their immune systems are not fully developed and they are less able to cope with extremes of heat and cold. Many succumb to infections such as scours (diarrhoea) or pneumonia on arrival. The massive veal industry in the Netherlands is dependent on importing hundreds of thousands of calves from the UK and Ireland, Germany and Poland, among others. Dutch veal producers rely on heavy use of veterinary drugs to prevent these animals being decimated by infections.

An end to veal crates

Following a successful campaign, a ban on the use of narrow veal crates across the EU came into force in January 2007. However, calves in Europe are still kept in conditions that would be illegal in the UK – mostly on barren slatted floors without bedding.

In the UK Compassion in World Farming is working with the RSPCA, the dairy and beef industry, UK supermarkets and government, through the Beyond Calf Exports Stakeholders Forum, to find alternatives to exporting live calves. There is growing interest in rearing bull dairy calves for beef to make up Britain’s shortfall in home produced meat. Studies have overturned some of the prejudices about dairy beef, showing that it has good eating qualities and is also lower in fat than meat from beef breeds.

The campaign in Europe is aimed at influencing the decision makers in the EU.